Over the years I have heard many good analogies about marriage. A recent post by Minister Fate Hagood really speaks truth that empowers. He states, “Marriage is a lifelong attempt to harmonize the puzzle pieces from two different puzzles. Sometimes some pieces are missing. Some pieces won't fit unless they're replaced. And sometimes the only way to make them fit is to ignore the fact that they just don't fit. But in the end... With prayer and patience... They come together and make a beautiful and unique masterpiece.”

​What a word for all couples! In successful marriages, couples make adjustments. They learn that things don’t have to be perfect for marriage to be beautiful. In fact, it is often the delusion that things will be perfect that leads to disappointment in marriage. We are so enthralled with the magic of the wedding day that we forget that the marriage will require the magic of sacrifice, dedication, mutual submission, humility, and compassion (Ephesians 5:21-33).

Are there some pieces in your marriage that just don’t fit? If so, ask yourself, “What adjustments do I need to make?” After you have asked yourself, share your reflections with your spouse and then ask your spouse to share with you which adjustments he or she would like for you to make. I admit this can be a scary conversation to have with your spouse. However it is often a necessary question to give us perspective. We know what it is like to be married to our spouse, but we don’t typically have a grip on what it is like for our spouse to be married to us.

Embrace making adjustments. Be open to replacing broken puzzle pieces with a renewed spirit. Find peace in knowing that God can fill the void of the missing pieces. Finally, appreciate the quirks and imperfections that make you a unique couple, realizing that even the most beautiful masterpiece has flaws.